After 7 months without a violin, I decided to play a violin again yesterday. The problem now is that I cannot control my rhytm and intonation at the same time. When I'm concentrated on intonation, rhytm always goes wrong and vice versa. There seems to be no way to control both at the same time. Any solution?

BillyG

Far North-west Scotland

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December 25, 2015 - 5:24 am

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And a Merry Xmas to you !

I don't know really - but here's some suggestions -

Maybe you "expect too much all at once" - go back to open string bowing. In sequence - spend time bowing SLOW full bow strokes, partial bow strokes and short (like 1 inch or less movement) strokes - and just get re-used to the "feel". Forget about intonation for the moment.

Rinse, repeat, but bow faster.

Next, get re-used to bowing in doublets and triplets.

Once you're comfortable again - I suggest scales, scales and more scales - and I bet it will suddenly all come back to you !!!!

Good luck !

I seriously recommend not copying my mistakes.

Please make your own, different mistakes, and help us all learn :-)

Zak

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December 25, 2015 - 2:24 pm

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If you aren't having any problems with tone production, I would just say slow down and focus on doing both at the same time, at a speed you can do it at. Then when you feel comfortable start going faster and faster.

Merry Xmas to you too.

Uzi

Georgia

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December 25, 2015 - 4:05 pm

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All skills are perishable. Practice is the cure. Learn to play any tune slowly and then bring it up to speed over time.

A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. ~Herm Albright

damfino

oHIo, USA

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December 25, 2015 - 6:45 pm

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My teacher tells me to practice them separately. Sometimes just focus on the rhythm of a song, and ignore intonation mistakes, and other times work on just the intonation. Pick a focus for the practice, and then they will work together. Everyone's different, but right now that's what works for me.

~ I'm not torturing cats... I'm learning to play violin! ~

Fiddlerman

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December 28, 2015 - 1:34 pm

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Welcome back Hurton. I like the idea of focusing on one thing at a time. Some people can multitask and some cannot. 🙂
Let us know how that turns out for you.

"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."

coolpinkone

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December 29, 2015 - 4:53 pm

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Welcome back...seems that separately or slowing it down is the key.

I have one nemesis song.. (Swallowtail Jig)... I can NOT for the life of me maintain a steady tempo...

I mean I am not the queen of playing in tune or in correct tempo.... I could stand to work on both a lot.

Cheeers.

Vibrato Desperato.... Desperately seeking vibrato

Fiddlestix

Michigan, USA

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December 29, 2015 - 5:28 pm

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Tap your foot.

Hurton

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February 1, 2016 - 12:52 pm

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Thanks for your advices, fiddlers! It is pleasure for me to communicate with you again 🙂

Last try (1 year and 3 months) was not successful. I end up playing Vivaldi's summer 3rd movement somehow (bad intonation, rhytm, a lot of technique mistakes). This try (2 months) is much more better. I work hard on my technique. Now the technique is really good (I mean posture, fingers' placement and movements). I play scales 40 minutes per day in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th positions. This produces incredibly good effect on intonation and shifting. I learn 'song from a secret garden', 'Swan Lake Finale', Dvorak's 'Humoresque'. The important point I get - I shouldn't try the pieces that are supposed to be played by professionals and not by amateurs after 1 year of practising violin. Im other words, ambitions must be limited by common sense.